KUALA LUMPUR - Phuket officials are addressing long delays in renewing and issuing work permits for more than 130,000 foreign workers amid complaints from employers about business disruptions.

The issue was raised at a monthly meeting of labour agencies on March 4, where Phuket Vice Governor Teeraphong Chuaychoo called for urgent action.

Key agencies attending the meeting included the Phuket Provincial Labour Office, Employment Office, Skills Development Institute 21, Labour Protection and Welfare Office, and Social Security Office.

Officials reviewed February’s results and discussed coordination and employment management issues, with the work permit backlog being the main concern.

Phuket Provincial Employment Office Chief, Pichit Singthongkam said the delays are due to a transition in the work permit processing system.

The Department of Employment launched a nationwide outsourced system on October 13, 2025, aiming to streamline applications through the digital e-WorkPermit platform via more than 40 service units across Thailand.

In Phuket, the system has struggled to handle the large foreign workforce, exceeding the capacity of the outsourced service provider.

Businesses, especially in tourism, have reported that slow permit renewals are delaying hiring and employment approvals.

Data from the Phuket Provincial Employment Office shows the island had 138,244 foreign workers as of October 2025.

Of these, 121,198 are from the four main neighbouring countries, 16,260 are general foreign workers from other nations, 503 are under the investment promotion category, and 283 are ethnic minority workers.

Teeraphong stressed the urgency of the situation and directed the Employment Office to find solutions immediately.

He said a meeting with employers and relevant agencies will be held to discuss practical steps to speed up the process.

Officials identified the main bottleneck at the production stage of the outsourced system, which cannot handle the high volume of applications.

As a temporary solution, more officers have been assigned to Phuket’s Foreign Work Permit Service Centre to help applicants, monitor progress, and report to central authorities.

The officers will also evaluate the outsourcing provider’s performance to ensure it meets required standards, reported The Phuket News.